The Imprisoned Splendor

Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise From outward things, whate’re you may believe. There is an inmost center in us all, Where truth abides in fullness; and around Wall upon wall, the gross flesh hems it in. This perfect clear perception — which is Truth to KNOW Rather consists in opening out a way Whence THE IMPRISONED SPLENDOR may escape Than in effecting entry for a light Supposed to be without.

– Robert Browning

sB ikCu Gr mih bwhir nwhI]
bwhir tolY so Brim BulwhI]

Everything is within the home of the self; there is nothing beyond. One who searches outside is deluded by doubt.

– Guru Granth Sahib p. 102

The splendor or Naam lies imprisoned within us. Any effort to find it elsewhere (place, person or condition) is in vain. The three white dots signify the divine attributes of one’s individual god consciousness.

To the degree these are realized, our consciousness (surat) unfolds to reveal the treasure or the splendor within. When one contemplates on these divine attributes and lovingly meditates using a mantra like Waheguru – vwihgurU – pronounced “Wah-hay-guroo”, one begins to experience the inner peace and intuitively discovers the imprisoned splendor.